Patent GB-1374794-A (GB)
Title: Energization of the combustible mixture in an internal combustion  engine
IPC: F02M27/08
Filed: 1971-10-21
Abstract: 1374794 I C engines treating charge ENERGY SCIENCES Inc 21 Oct 1971 [21 Oct 1970 1 July 1971] 49102/71 Heading F1B An I.C. engine has one or more combustion chambers, a mixer to form a combustible mixture from air and fuel, an intake manifold for coupling the combustible mixture admitted to an entrance of the manifold to the or each combustion chamber and means for introducing sonic energy between the mixer and the entrance to the manifold, the means comprising (a) a source of fluid at a higher pressure than the pressure in the manifold (b) a fluid line connecting the source to the entrance for conducting fluid from the source into the intake manifold without the fluid passing through the mixer (c) means in the fluid line for converting a portion of the energy of the fluid flowing from the source into coherent sonic wave energy i.e. sonic waves having the same wavelength or a number of component wavelengths that are multiply related, the waves propagating with the fluid into the intake manifold so as to form standing sonic waves across the entrance and (d) valve means in the fluid line responsive to the mode of engine operation for controlling the flow rate of the fluid from the source into the intake manifold. Fig. 1 shows an I.C. engine in which coherent sonic wave energy is introduced in several ways. A generator is disposed in the air filter 135, a flat metal plate 144 is clamped between a carburetter 136 and manifold 137 and a generator 149 is coupled to the plate and a third generator 133 is coupled by an air management valve 134 to the manifold. In Fig. 2 a sonic wave generator is provided in a line 130 through which combustible gases from the crank-case are returned to the manifold. Fig. 3 shows the plate 144 which is inserted between the carburetter and the intake manifold to couple a shock wave generator 167 to the intake manifold. Generator 167 comprises an air flow control valve 174, two units 172, 173 in parallel, each unit containing two shock wave generators in series, and a connector 175. Valve 174 is a two-state snap action valve having a bleed hole which permits a small flow of air when the absolute pressure in the manifold corresponds to idling, cruise or deceleration and which snaps open to permit a much greater flow when the absolute pressure rises during acceleration. Connector 175 leads to a conduit 169 terminating in a cavity 168 which communicates with two bores 145 and 146, which are in line with the carburetter bores. Formed in the plate are resonant cavities 182 to 187, the width of the conduit and all the cavities being Y, the height Z and the depth of the cavities being X and all these dimensions preferably being equal to the wavelength of the principal energy component, or a multiple or sub-multiple thereof, dependent on the air flow required. Shock wave energy produced by the units 172 and 173 is converted in cavity 168 to coherent sonic waves which propagate outwardly into cavities 182-187 and forms standing sonic waves across openings 145, 146 and then propagates transverse to the plane of plate 144 to form standing sonic waves. The volume of air induced through the wave generator is not more than 10% of the total air intake. In a modification, Fig. 4 (not shown), each of the units 172, 173 is connected to a respective conduit (169a, 169b), the conduits leading to a third T-shaped conduit which connects with cavities 168, 182 and 187. Two valves similar to the valve 174 are provided, one downstream of each of the units. In all the above wave generators the flow of air is dependent upon the absolute pressure in the intake manifold. A construction in which this characteristic is emphasized is shown in Fig. 7 and comprises a flat plate 206 in which a pattern of rectangular section grooves is formed. A triangular groove 213 is inscribed in a circular groove 212 to which it is connected by grooves 214, 215, 216. Further grooves 217, 218 and 219 lead to a central bore 220. A bleed conduit 225 leads to atmosphere. The main air flow is through conduits leading to and from the central bore 220. The open sides of the grooves are closed by a flat plate. The width and depth of the grooves and the dimensions R, R , S, S , T and T' are all multiples or sub-multiples of the principal wavelength e.g. 0À172 ins. In a modification, Fig. 9 (not shown), the main air flow is through conduit 225 which is enlarged in diameter and includes a valve 221, similar to the valve 174. Fig. 12 shows a modification of the plate of Fig. 7 the inscribed groove being square and the central bore 288 being surrounded by a ring of smaller holes 289. Atmospheric air is admitted through conduits 302, 303, 304, 305 each controlled by a valve of the same type as valve 174 and which are set to open in turn as the intake manifold pressure increases. Fig. 14 (not shown), shows a fuel injection nozzle 236 feeding into an inlet duct 293 and a shock wave generator 239a, a flow control valve 239b and square section conduits 239c which co-operate to inject sonic wave energy into the cylinder 235. The shock wave generators used in the units 172 and 173 consist of a nozzle 21, Fig. 5, open at one end and having at the other end a wall pierced by a central hole 33 and a ring of smaller holes 35. There are also four transverse holes 36, having their axes in a common plane. Specification 1374795 discloses and claims a sonic wave generator for producing coherent sonic wave energy.